Type-writing machine.



PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

J. G. NIEDBRBR.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5 1902 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1-.

H0 MODEL.

I INVEN?0R WITNESSES Atlarm No. 761,247. PATENTBDMAY 31, 1904. J. G. NIBDBRER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. YAPPLIOATION rmm rm. 5, 1902.

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PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

J. G. NIEDVBRER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NIB. 5. 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

K0 MODEL.

INVENTOR A liar Hey ,-MITNESS'S 'm': Nomus VETERS co. PNWILLITHO wAsumcrou. 0:12.

UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,247, dated May 31, 1904.

Application filed February 5, 19Q2. Serial No. 92,722. (No model.) 7

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN Gnonen NIE- DERER, of East Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements: in Type Writing Machines; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in type-writing machines, and more particularly to that class of machines employing two de-' vices for actuating the type-wheel, one actu' ating device being moved by one set of keylevers and the other device by the other set a after it has been set to print a character corresponding with the key which has been pressed. I

With these objects in View my invention consists in the parts and combination of parts as will be more fully explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly n section, "showa ing my improvements, the flier being in its normal position centrally between the two wheel-movers. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, the flier being shown partly in elevation and partly by dotted lines and one wheel-mover positively locked against movement. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, partly in section, showing the flier and type-wheel support in elevation and one of the wheel-movers in section; and Fig. 4 is a view of the same parts in front elevation. Fig. 5 is a'sectional view of a portion'of the machine. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the type-wheel lock.

1 represents the frame of the machine, carrying the usual set of key-levers 2, and 3 is wheel-movers 5 are similarlyarranged and are located in a plane above the inner ends of the'key-levers so as to be engaged thereby as the latter are elevated. The inner ends of the several key-levers are curved to form cams, and each lateral arm 4 carries a roller 6, which latter is of alength sufficient to be engaged by the entire set of levers which cooperate with its respective arm '4. Hence when a lever is depressed at its outer end its inner or cam end rises and engages the roller and operates, through the mechanism to be hereinafter described, to rotate the type-wheel sufiiciently to bring the character thereon corresponding with the depressed lever into position opposite the hammer, so that the forward stroke of the latter impresses such character upon the paper. Itwill also be observed that the shorter levers, or those on opposite sides of the center, move the lateral arms 4 the least, while the extent of movement is progressively increased by the levers from the center outward.

The lateral arms 4 are integral with the wheel-movers 5 and project forwardly and inwardly therefrom and operate, as previously explained, to move the wheel-movers rear- Wardly or in a direction to bring the proper character on the type-wheel in a position immediately in front 'of the hammer. These wheel movers are pivotally mounted on the posts 6, and each is provided'on its inner end with a toothed segment/7, both of whichlatter are designed to engage a segment 8, mounted on a post 9. This segment 8 normally rests in engagement with both segments 7, so that each of the latter is always when the parts are in a state of rest in aposition to actuate segment 8. When, however, one wheel-mover is positively actuated by any one of the keylevers of its series, the other wheel-mover is moved by the combined action of its spring 10 and'the segment 8 slightly forward into e'ngageinent with a stop 22,adjustalolysecured to the side the machine-frame in the horizontal plane of the wheel-mover, thus lockingthe latter against further forward movement. The rearward movement of the other wheel-mover by the depression of one of the key-levers of its series rotates the segment 8 in the opposite direction. Secured to the segment 8 or forming an integral part of the latter is segmental disk 21, the top surface of which is flush with the top of the segment 8, while its-.lowersurface is in a plane above the segments 7, thus permitting the latter to pass freely under the disk. The segmental disk 21 is of greater diameter than the segmental toothed wheel-8 and is located diametrically opposite the teeth of said Wheel, so that when the teeth of seg-; ment 8 are in engagement with the teeth of one of the wheel-movers 5 the disk 21 projects over the inner end of the otl1er.wheelmover 5.

Each wheel-mover 5 is provided on its upper face near its forward edge with an upwardlyprojecting pin 11, and Whenall the parts of the machine are at rest these two pins rest slightly. in advance of the front edge of the disk 21, asclearly shown in Fig. 1. If now one of the key-levers (say one engaging the wheel-mover on the left side of Fig. 1) bedcpressed, the corresponding wheel mover will be forced rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, thus partly rotating the segment 8. This movement of the segment 8 forces the other wheel-mover5 forwardly against its stop 22, or rather releases the same .so that its spring may draw it against its stop, and carries the segmental disk 21 around in aposition to engage its pin 11, and thus absolutely lock said wheelmover, as shown in Fig. 2,against any movement whatsoever. Hence it is apparent that after one key has been struck, all of the keylevers which actuate the other wheel mover will be locked and so held until the key which actuated the other wheel-mover has been released.

The mechanism thus far described is for locking one set of the levers when any one of the keys of the other set is depressed and to prevent the operation of one wheel-mover when the other is actuated. In additionto this the machine is also provided with a device which positively prevents any interference between the key-levers of the same set, so that after one key-lever has been actuated the others are either locked against movement or have not sufficient throw to engage the lateral which rests normally in a plane above the inner ends of the key-levers when the latter are at res't,'but below the planeof the'tops of said levers when the rear ends of the latter are-raised. Hence if one of the levers of the lefthand setsay-the lever representing the letter Qbe struck the inner end of this lever engaging the roller onlateral arm 4 forces the Wheel-mover rearward, as, shown in Fig. 2, thus bringing the rear end of said lever up in the path of the flier 14, which will strike it, and thus effectually lock the parts against further movement. ,If now any one of the keyrlevers in the same series be struck, it will be free to move; but as thelateral arm is out of the path of the movement of said lever such movement will have no effect 'whatever on itswheel-mover. In'Fig-.2 I have represented the'letter ,Q, as the outer lever of the left-hand series. If,however,any one of the levers of the same series be struck-say lever, 17 of Fig. 1--such movement will carry the wheelmover back a predetermined distance and the flier 14 into contact with the le,ver,,thus carrying'the lateral arm 4 out of the path of, all the levers of the same series to the left of lever 17 and locking all thosefto the right of lever 17 against movement. The spring-abutments 15 normally rest on opposite-sides of a stop 18 on :the flier 14. As soon, however, as a key is depressed the movement of the wheel-mover thus actuated by said key carries its abutment 15 out of the path of stop 18 to permit the flier, with its stop thereon, to move until the former comes in contact with the lever which has been actuated. To cause the abutment 15 to thus move out of the path of the flier-stop 18, the space between the first two teeth of thesegment 7 of each wheelmover is made of. greater width than the other spaces of said segment, so that when a wheel-mover 5 is first moved by the depression of a key-lever there will be suflicient lost motion or play between the segments 7 and 8 to permit the wheel-mover 5 which has been actuated. .to move far enough to carry the spring-abutment15 on said wheelmover out of the path of the flier-stop 18 before the flier is moved.-- The other abutment, however, still remains in the path of the stop, and when the key which has been actuated is released the flier swings around to its normal position and the stop thereon being prevented from further movement by coming in contact with the spring-abutment 15, which meshes with and transmits motion to a pinion 20. The pinion 20 is provided with a collar 23, mounted to rotate in a bracket 24, secured to the frame of the machine, and to said pinion a star-wheel is secured and adapted to be engaged by a dog 26 to .lock the typewheelwhen the same has been positioned. A sleeve 27 is mounted loosely onthe post 3 and passes freely through the collar 23, pinion 20, and wheel 25 and is movable freely in a vertical direction through these parts, but is made to rotate therewith by means of a spline 28, secured to said sleeve and passing freely through a groove in the collar 23 and the parts secured thereto. The spline 28 is continued above the collar 23 and forms a spring-arm 29, having a shoulder 31 at its upper end, said spring-arm passing through the type-wheel 30, which is'mounted on the sleeve 27 and the shoulder '31 at the upper end of the spring-arm serves to retain the typewheel in place, but permits it to be removed when desired. The lower end of the sleeve 27 is provided with a grooved collar 32, which is engaged by a yoke 33 at one end of an arm 34. The other end of the arm 34 is pivotally attached to the machine-frame, and said'arm is normally pressed downwardly by a spring 35. Key-levers 36 37 designated for figures and capitals, are pivotally attached to the machine-frame and adapted to raise the pivoted arm 34 different distances (being limited by screws 38 39) for raising the sleeve 27 and the type-wheel mounted for presenting capitals and figures to writing position. From the construction and arrangement of parts above described itwill be seen that the type-wheel can be raised without in the least disturbing the gearing which rotates the wheel, and thus friction and wear heretofore encountered by the teeth of the gears sliding on each other when the type wheel is raised is entirely avoided.

I have hereinbefore referred to the dog 26, engaging the star-wheel 25 to lock the typewheel afterthe latter has been positioned for writing. I will now describe in detail the devices which I employ for operating this dog.

A stud 40 projects'la'terally from a plate 41, secured to the frame of the machine in proximity to thestar-wheel25, and on said stud a sleeve 42 is loosely mounted. An arm 43 projects upwardly from the sleeve 42 and has secured to it a plate 44, provided with a beveled edge 45 and constituting adog to engage the star-wheel, so as to lock the latter and the type-wheel in proper position for writing. Should the movement of the type-wheel when positioned by the key-lever be slightly inaccurate-that is to say, moved a little too far or wheel and move the latter to bring the typewheel connected with it exactly in the proper position to insure the accurate printing of the type character. An arm 46 projects from the sleeve 42 nearly at right angles to the arm 43 and dog 26, and at the free end of the arm 46 a stud 47 projects outwardly therefrom and carries a roller 48. A segmental camplate 49 is pivoted at 50 to the frame of the machine and is provided on its upper 'edge with a shoulder 51, located some distance from one end, so that when a key-lever is operated the plate will move under the roller will be prevented, still the key-lever may be further depressed, and during this continued movement ofthe key-lever the dog 26 will be operated, the cam-surface of the key-lever being so shaped that after the arms 5 have been properly positioned the remainder of the cam-Surface will be concentric with a circle described by the point on the key-lever at that moment in contact with the roller. After the dog 26 has engaged the star-wheel the key-lever cannot be further depressed. In order to insure the continuity of the operation of the wheel-lock devices, some provision should be made to avoid wear of the cam edge 52 of the cam-plate 49, so that said cam edge will always be the same distance from the fulcrum of said plate. To accomplish this, I place on the cam edge 52 a light spring 53, which is secured at one end thereto and terminates at its other end at the shoulder 51. In order to insure the retention of the segmental cam-plate 49 and the roller 48 of the crank in operative re-lationto each other, a flat spring 54 may be employed, one end of said spring being secured to a lug 55 on the cam-plate and bearing at its other end upon the roller 48. A frame 56 is also pivotally attached at one end by means of the same pivot-pin. 50, which pivotally supports the cam-plate 49, and the other end of said frame is provided with a screw 57 which enters an elongated slot 58 in the cam-plate, so as to provide means for adjustably connecting the pivoted frame 56 and cam-plate 49 together. Two arms 59 project from the end of the pivoted frame 56, and to the free ends of these armstwo rods 60 are loosely connected. The rods 60 depend from and are preferably made integral with a curved bar 61, located upon the key-levers. Thus when a key-lever is depressed the bar 61 will be caused, through the medium of the rods 60, to tilt the pivoted frame'56 and the cam-plate 49, resulting in &

throwing the dog 26 into engagement with the star-wheel 25 to lock the type-wheel, as hereinbefore explained. When a key-lever is released and the parts return to their normal positions, the spring 54, bearing upon the roller 48 of the crank, will serve to move the dog 26 away from the star-Wheel 25. I

Various slight changes might be made in the detailsof construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact details herein set forth. i

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure'byLetters Patent, is

1. The combination with a type-wheel carrier, of two segmental wheel-movers, a pinion interposed between said movers, gearing connecting said pinion andtype-wheel carrier, devices for limiting the forward movement of the wheel-movers, and devices carried by the latter and by the interposed pinion for locking one of said movers against movement when the other is engaged by a key-lever.

.2. The. combination with a type-wheel carrier, of two wheel-movers each having a forwardly and inwardly projecting arm, a roller carried by eacharm, a series of key-levers for each roller and means for positively locking one wheel-mover when the other is engaged by any one of its key-levers.

3. The combination with two wheel-movers each having teeth, and a forwardly and inwardly projecting arm, a pinion interposed between said teeth and carrying a flier, and a set of key-levers for each projecting arm, of devices carried by the wheel-movers and interposed pinion for positively locking one wheel-mover when the projecting arm of the other is engaged by any one of its key-levers.

4. The combination with wheel-movers having teeth and forwardly and inwardly projecting arms, aset of key-levers for each arm and a pinion interposed between the teeth of the two wheel-movers, of a segmental disk carried by the pinion and a pin carried by each wheel-mover, thesaid disk and pins cooperating to lock one wheel-mover when the arm of the other is engaged by one of its keylevers.

5. The combination with two wheel-movers each having teeth and a forwardly and inwardly projecting arm, a pinion interposed between the teeth of said movers, and carrying a segmental disk and toothed segment and a type-wheel carrier having a pinion engaged by said toothed segment, of a set of key-levers for each wheel-mover and pins carried by the latter and adapted to be engaged by the segmental disk, whereby when one wheel-mover is actuated by a key, the other will be locked by the contact of the segmental disk with the pm.

6. The combination with two Wheel-movers having teeth, a pinion interposed between said teeth and carrying a disk and a flier, and a pin on each wheel-mover, of a series of key levers for each wheel-mover, each key-lever adapted when actuated .to move in the path of the flier and limit its movement.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a post, of a pinion through which said post passes, means for preventing vertical movement of the pinion, a sleeve on the post and movable vertically through the pinion, a type-wheel mounted on the sleeve, a spline secured to the sleeve and passing through a groove in the pinion, said spline terminating in a spring-arm passing through the type-wheel to hold it in place, a grooved collar at the lower end of said sleeve and devices engaging said grooved collar for raising the sleeve and type-wheel carried thereby.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-wheel and a star-wheel connected therewith, of a dog for engaging the star-wheel to lock the type-wheel, a cam-plate for operating the dog, key-levers, devices actuated by the key-levers for operating the type-wheel, and connections between the keylevers and said cam-plate for transmitting motion to the latter to throw the dog after the type-wheel has been moved.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-wheel and a star-wheel connected therewith, of a dog to engage the starwheel, a crank connected with said dog, a cam-plate for operating said crank, a key-lever and operating devices between the keylever and cam-plate. I

10. In atype-writing machine, the combination with a type-wheel, and a star-wheel connected therewith, of a dog to engage the star-wheel, a crank connected with said dog, a cam-plate engaging the crank, aspring carried by the cam-plate and engaging the crank, a key-lever and operating devices between the key-lever and the cam-plate.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-wheel, and a star-wheel connected therewith, of a pivoted dog, a crank connected with said dog, a cam-plate for engaging the crank to throw the dog into engagement with the star wheel, a pivoted frame, a connection between the cam-plate and pivoted frame, a key-lever, and operating devices between the key-lever and pivoted frame.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-wheel and a star-wheel connected therewith, of a dog to engage the star-wheel; a cam-plate for operating the dog, a key-lever, operating devices between the key-lever and cam-plate and means for accomplishing the adjustment of said operatirigdevices.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-wheel and a star-wheel connected therewith, of a dog to engage the TIO star-Wheel, a crank carried by the dog, acamstar-wheel, a crank connected with said dog,

a cam-plate having ,a cam edge, a shoulder on said cam edge, a spring on the upper portion v of the cam edge of the plate to prevent wear of the same, one end of said spring terminating in proximity to said shoulder, and means for operating the cam-plate.

Intestimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GEORGE NIEDERER. Witnesses:

ROBERT T. SCHLEIOHER, THos. J. FENRoN. 

